US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited the historic Thiksey Monastery in Ladakh on Friday during his ongoing visit to the Union Territory.
Located on a hill in Thiksey, around 19 km from Leh, the monastery is one of the largest and most prominent monastic complexes in central Ladakh. It is known for its resemblance to Tibet’s Potala Palace.
Founded in 1433, Thiksey Monastery houses centuries-old images, stupas, scroll paintings and wall paintings. It is also home to a 15-metre-high statue of Maitreya Buddha, installed in the 1980s.
The monastery is known for its daily morning prayers, which attract visitors seeking to experience its spiritual atmosphere. The site also offers panoramic views of the surrounding villages and the Indus River.
Gor arrived in Leh on Thursday following engagements in Jammu and Kashmir, marking a visit by a senior US envoy to the strategically important frontier region amid India’s ongoing security concerns along its borders.
Before travelling to Ladakh, Gor held a series of meetings in the Kashmir Valley with key regional stakeholders.
Upon his arrival in Srinagar, the US Ambassador reiterated Washington’s position on Jammu and Kashmir, describing the Union Territory as “an important part of India”.
Speaking to reporters alongside Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah after their meeting, Gor said, “Kashmir is an important part of India. I am visiting the place for the first time. It is an incredibly beautiful place.”
Gor also expressed optimism about further strengthening India-US ties following his meeting with Abdullah.
“We had a very warm meeting and we look forward to building on our relationship,” he said.
The meeting was significant as it marked the first interaction between a serving US ambassador and a sitting Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister in more than 15 years. The previous such meeting took place in 2011, when then US Ambassador Timothy Roemer met Abdullah.
The last standalone visit to Kashmir by a US envoy was undertaken by Kenneth Juster in 2018, followed by his visit in 2020 as part of a multi-nation diplomatic delegation.
Gor’s visit comes seven years after the Centre’s decision to abrogate Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcate the erstwhile state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
His engagements in the region mark renewed diplomatic interaction with Jammu and Kashmir’s elected government and come amid efforts to strengthen India-US cooperation on regional security and counter-terrorism.
The visit also takes place against the backdrop of the broader India-US strategic partnership and recent high-level discussions between Gor and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on counter-terrorism cooperation.
(ANI)
